Umbrella-runner.



Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

. wwmeoo FFKQ CHARLES A. HART, or FINDLAY, OHIO.

UMBRELLA-RUNNER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. '7, 1917.

Original application filed October 2, 1915, Serial No. 53,797. Divided and this application filed March 20,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. HART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Findlay, in the county of Hancock and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Umbrella-Runners, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention involves certain specific improvements in umbrellas, and this application constitutes a division of my copendin application Serial Number 53,797, filed ctober 2, 1915, now patent No. 1,215,369.

It is a well known fact that the ordinary umbrella in common use is provided with ,a runner connected with the stretchers of the ribs, which runner is adapted to be locked in the open and closed conditions of the top by suitable locking means. The ordinary runner device with the locking means consisting of a spring catch entering a slot in the runner, while almost universally used, is quite frequently rather difficult to operate. It is true that not infrequently the fingers of the user are pinched in the adjustment of the runner incident to unlocking the same especially.

The primary object of the improvements of this invention, therefore, is to devise a more effective and more easily operated runner means for umbrellas, the construction, however, being one conducive to simplicity as required for the particular purposes in view.

A complete understanding of the details of construction of the device referred to will be had upon reference to the accompanying description and the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of an umbrella having the invention applied thereto and illustrating the cover construction in section and the stick in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the runner device alone.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the runner device, the umbrella stick being broken away.

Fig. 411s a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, a clear understanding of the runner device may be had, and in the drawings A denotes the umbrella stick, B the cover, C the stretchers, and D the handle.

Serial No. 85,431.

The stick A, as illustrated, is the telescopic construction and the runner device is illustrated in' the adjustment assumed thereby when the umbrella is open, in Fig. 1. It is to be understood, however, that it is immaterial to the present invention whether the stick A is telescopic or not since the runner device is applicable equally well to unitary or sectional umbrella stick structures.

Describing the runner device itself, the same comprises the runner 1, of sleeve-like formation provided with the actuating mem ber or grip 2, the latter being likewise in the form of a Sleeve slidable on the lower portion of the runner l. The actuating member 2 is provided with a cam 3 projecting upwardly therefrom and operating in a slot formed in a locking catch 4 carried by the upper portion of the runner 1. At its upper end the cam 3 is beveled to slidingly engage between the catch 4 and the stick A. Thus when the umbrella is closed and the runner device adjusted at the lower limit of its movement upon the stick A, with the catch a engaging an annular projection or rib 5 carried by the stick, the operation in order to release the runner may be readily followed. This operation consists in pressing upward upon the actuating member 2 so that the latter will slide a slight distance until the catch 4: is pushed outward slightly from the stick and its projection 5 thereby disengaging these parts and rendering the runner device free to slide upward on the stick until the umbrella is properly opened.

In the construction illustrated the runner device is held at its uppermost adjustment by means of the force exerted on the stretchers G incident to the spreading of the cover B, but if desired a special catch may be utilized to hold the runner at its upper adjustment within the purview of the invention. Obviously on the downward movement of the runner device the catch 4 will be free to engage with the projection or stop 5.

Owing to the peculiar camming action of the cam member 3 the normal tendency of the catch 4: to spring inward toward the stick holds the actuating member 2 at the lower limit of its movement on the sleevelike body of the runner 1 and returns it to such position after upward pressure on the part 2 for the purpose of disengaging the catch 4 from the stop 5. Downward movement of the actuating member 2 on the runner l is limited by swaging outward the lower extremities of the runner, forming in this way an annular projection "6.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In an umbrella, the combination of a stick provided with a stop in its length, a runner device mounted on said stick and comprising a sleeve-like body receiving the stick, a spring catch carried by said body and adapted to normally engage the stop aforesaid, an actuating member of sleeve like form movably mounted on the runner, and a cam member projecting from said actuating member and engageable between the said runner and the catch so that on movement of the actuating member relatively to the runner the catch will be disengaged from the stop.

2. I11 an umbrella, the combination of a stick provided with a stop in its length, a runner device mounted on said stick and comprising a sleeve-like body receiving the stick, a spring catch carried by said body and adapted to normally engage the stop aforesaid, an actuating member of sleevelike form movably mounted on the runner, the said catch being formed with a slot therein, a cam member projecting from the sleeve having a portion thereof entering the said slot of the catch and adapted to Wedge between the catch and therunner whereby on relative movementof the actuating member and the runner the catch will be disen- 'gaged from the stop, said runner being provided with means to limit the movement of the actuating member aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

CHARLES A. HART.

Copies of this ,patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, 2D. 0. 

